Art Directors pay range in Charlotte
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $70,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $134,510 or more. The middle half of art directors in Charlotte earn between $90,000 and $90,000.
- $70K10th
- $90K25th
- $90KMedian
- $90K75th
- $135K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $97,260 | $8,105 | $46.76 |
| Median | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Art Directors pay in Charlotte vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Art directors in Charlotte earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($95,460) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($129,440). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $114,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $97,260 | $90,000 | $70,420 | $134,510 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $95,460 | $90,000 | $56,460 | $142,740 | n/a |
| United States | $129,440 | $114,850 | $64,900 | $213,050 | 53,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Art Directors salary after taxes in Charlotte
On the average salary of $97,260, a single filer in Charlotte takes home about $73,880 a year, or $6,157 a month and $2,842 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NC | $73,880 | $6,157 |
| Working in SC | $73,151 | $6,096 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charlotte a good place for art directors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlotte area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $97,260 buys what about $99,910 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlotte ($49,990). A typical home costs $390,321, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Art Directors salary in other North Carolina cities
Charlotte ranks 3rd of 7 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($113,550).
- Raleigh$113,550
- Greensboro$100,380
- Charlotte$97,260
- Durham$95,580
- Wilmington$91,870
- Winston-Salem$90,800
- Asheville$74,360
Highest-paying cities for art directors
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($182,620).
- San Jose, CA$182,620
- San Francisco, CA$169,940
- New York, NY$161,120
- Portland, OR$158,630
- Los Angeles, CA$156,680
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Art Directors salary in Charlotte: questions
How much do art directors make an hour in Charlotte?
$46.76 an hour on average, and $43.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level art directors salary in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $70,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $90,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the art directors take-home pay in Charlotte?
About $73,880 a year ($6,157 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $97,260.
Do art directors earn more in Charlotte than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% less than the U.S. average for this job ($129,440).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-1011; area Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (16740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
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